Most Christian churches had special Easter services recently to celebrate or mark the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Mormon church had an advertising campaign to tell the world that Mormons are Christians.
The Mormon Church remembered to fund an advertising campaign but according to latest reports from the pews, the vast majority of Mormon wards/branches forgot to have special Easter services and/or hardly commemorated this special event in the Christian calender.
Which is probably why the Mormon church has to keep telling people that it really is a Christian church...
Showing posts with label Mormon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mormon. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
More on Mitt Romney, double-edged sword for Mormonism?
Is Mitt Romney a double-edged sword for Mormonism?
Whilst on the one hand, the old adage is: "No publicity is bad publicity" but does that always hold true.
Because on the other hand, for every positive aspect of Mormonism that comes up there other others that might give non-Mormons (and, truth to tell, some Mormons) food for thought.
What kinds of things am I thinking about: The fact that some rather dubious MLMs are based in Utah and are controlled by Mormons. (Along with some legit MLMs based in Utah, too, before anyone thinks me prejudiced) Mountain Meadows Massacre, the fact that Brigham Young decreed that any mixed race couple and their children should be hacked to death, that Mormons preach (or preached) that Black people had been less valiant in the pre-existence, siding neither with God or Satan, that Joseph Smith took many married lovers and had a Jeffs-style interest in very young girls and so on and on and on.
Romney has shown himself to be a total waste. No real man would put a dog on the top of a speeding car and travel with it there for mile after terrifying mile until the dog was so psychologically traumatised that it fouled itself in fear.
Do Mormons who sing the praise of Mitt really think that a man of that failed moral calibre is a fit and proper person to be the leader of the United States of America?
Whilst on the one hand, the old adage is: "No publicity is bad publicity" but does that always hold true.
Because on the other hand, for every positive aspect of Mormonism that comes up there other others that might give non-Mormons (and, truth to tell, some Mormons) food for thought.
What kinds of things am I thinking about: The fact that some rather dubious MLMs are based in Utah and are controlled by Mormons. (Along with some legit MLMs based in Utah, too, before anyone thinks me prejudiced) Mountain Meadows Massacre, the fact that Brigham Young decreed that any mixed race couple and their children should be hacked to death, that Mormons preach (or preached) that Black people had been less valiant in the pre-existence, siding neither with God or Satan, that Joseph Smith took many married lovers and had a Jeffs-style interest in very young girls and so on and on and on.
Romney has shown himself to be a total waste. No real man would put a dog on the top of a speeding car and travel with it there for mile after terrifying mile until the dog was so psychologically traumatised that it fouled itself in fear.
Do Mormons who sing the praise of Mitt really think that a man of that failed moral calibre is a fit and proper person to be the leader of the United States of America?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Is a Mormon candidate for president good or bad for the Mormon Church?
Mitt Romney as a presidential candidate is a two-edged sword for the Mormon Church.
On the one hand it gives Mormons the opportunity to discuss their faith, yet on the other hand it creates problems, rather than opportunities, at the same time.
"So, let me see... your church believes in Baptism for the dead, yet a number of Mormons keep putting the names of famous dead people from history forward as names to be baptised? They go through lists of famous disasters like the sinking of the Titanic and of awful, wicked events like the Holocaust and events like the Mountain Meadows Massacre and put those names forward for baptism?"
"By the way, is it true your church was racist up until at least 1978, that it believed that black skinned people were cursed, as they had been less valiant that white people in the pre-existence?
"And didn't Brigham Young preach that mixed marriages were not only immoral, but should invoke an automatic death sentence for both parties?"
When confronted with such information the average Mormon will say: "You have been listening to horrible, evil anti-Mormons!" not wanting to believe that such information is true.
Yet it is true. So, the candidacy of Mitt Romney not only helps other people to learn about the history of the Mormon Church, it can teach its members something about the history of the Mormon Church. Is that a good or a bad thing for the Mormon church and for the individual members?
The Mormon Church should have an historical Truth and Reconciliation Committee to look at the history of the Mormon Church, warts and all. That is what it needs. But it is the last thing the current or future leadership of the Mormon Church wants. Which is a pity.
On the one hand it gives Mormons the opportunity to discuss their faith, yet on the other hand it creates problems, rather than opportunities, at the same time.
"So, let me see... your church believes in Baptism for the dead, yet a number of Mormons keep putting the names of famous dead people from history forward as names to be baptised? They go through lists of famous disasters like the sinking of the Titanic and of awful, wicked events like the Holocaust and events like the Mountain Meadows Massacre and put those names forward for baptism?"
"By the way, is it true your church was racist up until at least 1978, that it believed that black skinned people were cursed, as they had been less valiant that white people in the pre-existence?
"And didn't Brigham Young preach that mixed marriages were not only immoral, but should invoke an automatic death sentence for both parties?"
When confronted with such information the average Mormon will say: "You have been listening to horrible, evil anti-Mormons!" not wanting to believe that such information is true.
Yet it is true. So, the candidacy of Mitt Romney not only helps other people to learn about the history of the Mormon Church, it can teach its members something about the history of the Mormon Church. Is that a good or a bad thing for the Mormon church and for the individual members?
The Mormon Church should have an historical Truth and Reconciliation Committee to look at the history of the Mormon Church, warts and all. That is what it needs. But it is the last thing the current or future leadership of the Mormon Church wants. Which is a pity.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
How long will it be before some Mormon "does the work" for Whitney Houston?
How long will it be before some Mormon "does the work" for Whitney Houston?
Yes, indeed! How long will it be before some Mormon decides to "do the work" for Whitney Houston?
Of course, prior to 1978 no decent, Brigham Young fearing Mormon would have even dared to think about having to work done for a "Black" person.
In fact, an otherwise decent young Mormon who seemed to have amassed a collection of Mormon FPRs (this was in pre-Internet days) would regale people with how a white looking Mormon was declined a position in the LDS Church because one of the other priesthood holders was warned by the voice of God that he should not get the calling.
It turned out, she would tell everyone, that this was the right cause of action because when they went back over many years, they found out that this man had a single "Black" ancestor, so was not worthy of either being given the calling or even of holding the priesthood. Why? Because having even one drop of "Black" blood precluded him from full membership of the LDS church.
Oddly enough, I have not heard that FPR since 1978. And, in accordance with the habits of Mormonism, I doubt if she remembers telling that story, which she told gleefully at Seminary, Institute, Firesides, or in F&T meeting.
Anyone else hear that FPR? Any other FPRs that you would like to share?
Yes, indeed! How long will it be before some Mormon decides to "do the work" for Whitney Houston?
Of course, prior to 1978 no decent, Brigham Young fearing Mormon would have even dared to think about having to work done for a "Black" person.
In fact, an otherwise decent young Mormon who seemed to have amassed a collection of Mormon FPRs (this was in pre-Internet days) would regale people with how a white looking Mormon was declined a position in the LDS Church because one of the other priesthood holders was warned by the voice of God that he should not get the calling.
It turned out, she would tell everyone, that this was the right cause of action because when they went back over many years, they found out that this man had a single "Black" ancestor, so was not worthy of either being given the calling or even of holding the priesthood. Why? Because having even one drop of "Black" blood precluded him from full membership of the LDS church.
Oddly enough, I have not heard that FPR since 1978. And, in accordance with the habits of Mormonism, I doubt if she remembers telling that story, which she told gleefully at Seminary, Institute, Firesides, or in F&T meeting.
Anyone else hear that FPR? Any other FPRs that you would like to share?
Saturday, February 18, 2012
How to counter Mormon Baptism for the Dead
To some people the Mormon doctrine of Baptism for the Dead is of no importance. They beleive that as it is a fake created by Joseph Smith, that it doesn't matter.
However, for some people it matters very much. They feel it is an insult to not only their dead ancestors but also to the family.
Others might wonder why the Mormon Church should benefit from the misdeeds of some of its own members.
For example, Mormons,some disguised as Indians, murdered an entirely innocent wagon train of settlers in Mountain Meadows. Should the Mormon Church profit from having their murder victims baptised for the dead?
And in Germany some Mormons sided with the Nazis and reported where Jewish families were hiding. They even reported on members of the German Resistance movement causing them to be taken away and executed. Once again, the questions remains, should the Mormon Church be allowed to profit from the misdeeds of some of its membership?
I think not.
How, therefore, can baptism for the dead be countered in a theological way? If you are an active member of a religious group you can approach your church elders or leaders and ask them to organise a special ceremony to de-baptise the victim of baptism for the dead, or necrodunking as some critics term this practice.
If you do not regularly attend a church you might like to take the following prayer and change it to suit your own particular faith's concept of God:-
"Lord, please hear my prayer. The Mormon Church has baptised for the dead members of my family, my clan or other people that I feel connected to by reason of tribe, culture or faith. Lord, I feel that this baptism for the dead is an insult to not only them, but also to myself and other members of my family, my clan and my culture.
"Therefore, Lord, I am asking you to please revoke the effects of this baptism for the dead and set it aside as being an unwarranted intrusion and an insult."
You can then finish the payer in the fashion appropriate to your faith.
If you are an atheist, you can alter this to remove any religious reference and instead make it into a prayer to the Universe.
If you like this idea, please forward this blog post to as many people as you feel would find comfort, release and peace from being able to enact this idea.
However, for some people it matters very much. They feel it is an insult to not only their dead ancestors but also to the family.
Others might wonder why the Mormon Church should benefit from the misdeeds of some of its own members.
For example, Mormons,some disguised as Indians, murdered an entirely innocent wagon train of settlers in Mountain Meadows. Should the Mormon Church profit from having their murder victims baptised for the dead?
And in Germany some Mormons sided with the Nazis and reported where Jewish families were hiding. They even reported on members of the German Resistance movement causing them to be taken away and executed. Once again, the questions remains, should the Mormon Church be allowed to profit from the misdeeds of some of its membership?
I think not.
How, therefore, can baptism for the dead be countered in a theological way? If you are an active member of a religious group you can approach your church elders or leaders and ask them to organise a special ceremony to de-baptise the victim of baptism for the dead, or necrodunking as some critics term this practice.
If you do not regularly attend a church you might like to take the following prayer and change it to suit your own particular faith's concept of God:-
"Lord, please hear my prayer. The Mormon Church has baptised for the dead members of my family, my clan or other people that I feel connected to by reason of tribe, culture or faith. Lord, I feel that this baptism for the dead is an insult to not only them, but also to myself and other members of my family, my clan and my culture.
"Therefore, Lord, I am asking you to please revoke the effects of this baptism for the dead and set it aside as being an unwarranted intrusion and an insult."
You can then finish the payer in the fashion appropriate to your faith.
If you are an atheist, you can alter this to remove any religious reference and instead make it into a prayer to the Universe.
If you like this idea, please forward this blog post to as many people as you feel would find comfort, release and peace from being able to enact this idea.
Monday, February 06, 2012
At last! ExMormon sticker and notice designs are available here!
Several months ago I promised that some designs for ex-Mormon stickers and notices would be available.
Due to circumstances beyond my control this has not been possible to put into action until very recently.
But now, they are available! And here are the first designs. You can use them on websites or print them out for use on the door of your home if you are pestered by Mormons and/or other religious callers.
Please enjoy them!
Due to circumstances beyond my control this has not been possible to put into action until very recently.
But now, they are available! And here are the first designs. You can use them on websites or print them out for use on the door of your home if you are pestered by Mormons and/or other religious callers.
Please enjoy them!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Mormonism Promises much, gives so little
Mormonism promises so much and gives so little. Or so it seems to me.
The strange thing about Mormonism is that it seems to vary so much from one ward to another, from one branch to another and from one stake to another and one district to another.
In general in most churches everyone knows what the theology is and if you do not like the theology, well, in theory, you can attend a different church. If a Baptist becomes a Methodist, if a Methodist decides to join the Church of England, nobody seems to mind so much.
But if a Mormon decides he or she wants to become a Methodist -for example- on, dear! It's Mormon Church Court time!
Why? Is it the loss of tithing receipts from that member that bothers the Mormon church so much?
The strange thing about Mormonism is that it seems to vary so much from one ward to another, from one branch to another and from one stake to another and one district to another.
In general in most churches everyone knows what the theology is and if you do not like the theology, well, in theory, you can attend a different church. If a Baptist becomes a Methodist, if a Methodist decides to join the Church of England, nobody seems to mind so much.
But if a Mormon decides he or she wants to become a Methodist -for example- on, dear! It's Mormon Church Court time!
Why? Is it the loss of tithing receipts from that member that bothers the Mormon church so much?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Notamormon!
Have a fantastic, Mormonism free Christmas, New Year and 2012, in so far as you can!
This will take you to a rather nice online Christmas greeting card
http://thatschristmas.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year.html
Good bye for 2011. See you in 2012!
This will take you to a rather nice online Christmas greeting card
http://thatschristmas.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year.html
Good bye for 2011. See you in 2012!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Are Mormons Christians? Is Mormonism Christian?
Are Mormons Christian? The answer to that questions is in most cases, yes, they are.
But is Mormonism Christian? That is an entirely different matter.
When is a secret agent a secret agent?
This might not seem connected, but it is.
Not many years ago a case came to court that seemed like the worst kind of fictional plot for a pot-boiler of a novel.
A man approached a group of college friends and he wheedled his way into their confidences.
Eventually he was able to produce evidence that he was an officer in MI6 and that he was spying on a fellow student who was Irish and, he told them, a member of the Provisional IRA and in charge of a local IRA cell. He pointed out to some perceived inconsistencies in the Irish student's behaviour and he was able to convince them that what he told them was the truth.
The man even became the lover of one of the group and, I seem to recall, fathered a child by her.
He recruited them into MI6 as agents and had them undertake missions.
Eventually he told them that they had somehow had their covers blown and he made them flee for their lives.
They spent several years fleeing from place to place, taking up whatever lowly paid job they could, always fearful for their lives. He made them get money from their families whenever they could.
This carried on until, one day, the police arrested the MI6 agent. Who, of course, turned out not to have been an MI6 agent at all.
So although the people who he recruited had been convinced that they were MI6 agents, who even had documents prepared by the alleged MI6 agent to prove that they were MI6 agents, they were, in reality, not MI6 agents at all. They were, instead, victims of a wicked, calculated fraud by a man who was an amoral fantasist.
There is a very strong parallel with Mormonism, here.
Mormons have written, documentary evidence that they are Christians. They are members of record of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their Elders have their written Lines of Authority.
But they are like the poor souls who were deluded into thinking that they were MI6 agents. All of the documentary evidence that shows they are members of the Christian Church are false papers based on a long-term fraud invented and perpetrated by a group of men, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
But is Mormonism Christian? That is an entirely different matter.
When is a secret agent a secret agent?
This might not seem connected, but it is.
Not many years ago a case came to court that seemed like the worst kind of fictional plot for a pot-boiler of a novel.
A man approached a group of college friends and he wheedled his way into their confidences.
Eventually he was able to produce evidence that he was an officer in MI6 and that he was spying on a fellow student who was Irish and, he told them, a member of the Provisional IRA and in charge of a local IRA cell. He pointed out to some perceived inconsistencies in the Irish student's behaviour and he was able to convince them that what he told them was the truth.
The man even became the lover of one of the group and, I seem to recall, fathered a child by her.
He recruited them into MI6 as agents and had them undertake missions.
Eventually he told them that they had somehow had their covers blown and he made them flee for their lives.
They spent several years fleeing from place to place, taking up whatever lowly paid job they could, always fearful for their lives. He made them get money from their families whenever they could.
This carried on until, one day, the police arrested the MI6 agent. Who, of course, turned out not to have been an MI6 agent at all.
So although the people who he recruited had been convinced that they were MI6 agents, who even had documents prepared by the alleged MI6 agent to prove that they were MI6 agents, they were, in reality, not MI6 agents at all. They were, instead, victims of a wicked, calculated fraud by a man who was an amoral fantasist.
There is a very strong parallel with Mormonism, here.
Mormons have written, documentary evidence that they are Christians. They are members of record of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their Elders have their written Lines of Authority.
But they are like the poor souls who were deluded into thinking that they were MI6 agents. All of the documentary evidence that shows they are members of the Christian Church are false papers based on a long-term fraud invented and perpetrated by a group of men, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
"Well, what harm can Mormonism do?" Let me explain
If the last time you attended the Mormon Church was before the Three Hour Block Programme was introduced, I doubt you would recognise it as the same Mormon Church.
Regular ward or branch socials? Theatrical presentations and the like? Things of the past, mainly. Rummage or jumble sales, bring and buys? Banned by edict from Salt Lake City.
Remember Sunday School in the morning, with Sacrament meeting in the evening? All gone! All absorbed into the mad, frantic and spiritually sapping Three Hour Block Programme.
Why? Consolidation. All must be the same. You will be assimilated, Borg-style.
This happened because the Mormon Church is run by its civil service, by managers, not by the clergy. Because, of course, the Mormon Church has no clergy.
"Well, what harm can Mormonism do?" An interesting and fair question. Let me direct you to www.exmormon.org. Read the blogs there, read the posts, then read the heart-wrenching stories about how people struggled when they became aware that the Mormon Church was not what they thought it was. When they realised that it was part MLM, part Ponzi scheme and part corporate behemoth, without any real spirit, or soul or religion, when they realised that the name Jesus Christ over the door was a hollow mockery of Jesus Christ.
Read how families are split apart by the Mormon Church, how it sucks money, time, spirit, heart and even the last vestiges of hope from the membership, from the poor, from the downtrodden, from the needy. The very people that it should be helping, it is actually crushing and trampling underfoot.
Sometimes good people within the Mormon Church do good for others. But please do not be deluded! That is against the backdrop of the whole evil edifice that is Mormonism! The great building, the whited sepulchre built by Joseph Smith, a 19th century con artist that made Charles Ponzi seem like a no-account dilettante piker of a confidence man, when compared to Smith whose claim to fame is that his con is still operating over 180 years later!
Regular ward or branch socials? Theatrical presentations and the like? Things of the past, mainly. Rummage or jumble sales, bring and buys? Banned by edict from Salt Lake City.
Remember Sunday School in the morning, with Sacrament meeting in the evening? All gone! All absorbed into the mad, frantic and spiritually sapping Three Hour Block Programme.
Why? Consolidation. All must be the same. You will be assimilated, Borg-style.
This happened because the Mormon Church is run by its civil service, by managers, not by the clergy. Because, of course, the Mormon Church has no clergy.
"Well, what harm can Mormonism do?" An interesting and fair question. Let me direct you to www.exmormon.org. Read the blogs there, read the posts, then read the heart-wrenching stories about how people struggled when they became aware that the Mormon Church was not what they thought it was. When they realised that it was part MLM, part Ponzi scheme and part corporate behemoth, without any real spirit, or soul or religion, when they realised that the name Jesus Christ over the door was a hollow mockery of Jesus Christ.
Read how families are split apart by the Mormon Church, how it sucks money, time, spirit, heart and even the last vestiges of hope from the membership, from the poor, from the downtrodden, from the needy. The very people that it should be helping, it is actually crushing and trampling underfoot.
Sometimes good people within the Mormon Church do good for others. But please do not be deluded! That is against the backdrop of the whole evil edifice that is Mormonism! The great building, the whited sepulchre built by Joseph Smith, a 19th century con artist that made Charles Ponzi seem like a no-account dilettante piker of a confidence man, when compared to Smith whose claim to fame is that his con is still operating over 180 years later!
Friday, November 04, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
More guilt, my dears?
Doubtless in the days and weeks after the Mormon Church General Conference the faithful and less-than-faithful members of the Mormon Church are feeling guilty or, probably, even more guilty than they did before.
They will have been convinced that they should have given the Mormon Church more of their time, more of their money, have done more to spread the word of the Gospel according to Joseph Smith to their friends, neighbours and, indeed, the rest of the world.
They will have been convinced, too, that they should "lengthen their stride", "attend the temple more", "put their shoulder to the wheel", "magnify their calling", "strengthen their testimony", "close their cover before striking" or some other such meaningless platitude.
The General Conference of the Mormon Church: A place where elderly executives of what can be described as the world's oldest MLM pyramid selling scheme or, more accurately, the world's oldest and most successful Ponzi scheme gather to shake down their victims one more time.
They will have been convinced that they should have given the Mormon Church more of their time, more of their money, have done more to spread the word of the Gospel according to Joseph Smith to their friends, neighbours and, indeed, the rest of the world.
They will have been convinced, too, that they should "lengthen their stride", "attend the temple more", "put their shoulder to the wheel", "magnify their calling", "strengthen their testimony", "close their cover before striking" or some other such meaningless platitude.
The General Conference of the Mormon Church: A place where elderly executives of what can be described as the world's oldest MLM pyramid selling scheme or, more accurately, the world's oldest and most successful Ponzi scheme gather to shake down their victims one more time.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Exclusive Notamormon goods available!
Yes, you too can enjoy owning some special Notamormon merchandise! Bearing the name Notamormon and the legend: "Mormonism, it's OK to say no" they are only available at this link to the Notamormon online shop:-
Notamormon shop
Notamormon shop
An interesting website
An interesting website -that links to Notamormon, is http://www.monergism.com/online_ministries.php.
It contains links to a wide variety of websites and has Notamormon listed as being a counter cult website. A designation with which, after a second or so of thought, I found I could not disagree with.
It contains links to a wide variety of websites and has Notamormon listed as being a counter cult website. A designation with which, after a second or so of thought, I found I could not disagree with.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Mormon General Conference
Yes, the Mormon Church has just had their General Conference.
Members of the Mormon church will have received instructions that they must pay their tithing, be subservient to local Mormon leaders, visit the temple as often as possible and testify to people that the Mormon church is the true church of God.
How do I know this? Because that is all the leaders of the Mormon Church (or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to give it its full title) every say at their General Conferences.
There will also have been a few rather weak jokes, but that will have been about it.
It is, in reality, a slick presentation by a large MLM corporation, rather than a church in any meaningful sense of the word that would be understandable by an outsider. It's like an MLM convention salted with a few hymns and prayers to make it more palatable to the members.
Members of the Mormon church will have received instructions that they must pay their tithing, be subservient to local Mormon leaders, visit the temple as often as possible and testify to people that the Mormon church is the true church of God.
How do I know this? Because that is all the leaders of the Mormon Church (or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to give it its full title) every say at their General Conferences.
There will also have been a few rather weak jokes, but that will have been about it.
It is, in reality, a slick presentation by a large MLM corporation, rather than a church in any meaningful sense of the word that would be understandable by an outsider. It's like an MLM convention salted with a few hymns and prayers to make it more palatable to the members.
Monday, September 26, 2011
A question of Tithing and Mormonism
Someone at the RFM board posed an interesting question, recently. It was: "How can Mormons afford to pay tithing?"
My answer to this question is: "Many of them cannot afford to pay tithing."
My parents could not afford to pay tithing. But they did and, as a result, the family suffered.
I well remember when an officious and overbearing Mormon Bishop demanded a meeting with my parents. Apparently he was "concerned" that my parents were not paying a full fast offering, so small was the amount that my parents donated every month.
When my mother showed him her shopping list with each item carefully costed (that was something she always did, in order to eke out my father's miserly wage, we were in a rural area were pay was ridiculously low) he was shocked that our family got by on such a small amount of money for food.
He was shocked, but not shocked enough to offer any financial help to my parents. "The Church Welfare Programme does not operate in Britain" he had told them. "And the fast offering is for poor people." He apparently failed to see the irony in the fact that as he knew what my father's income was and knew the minuscule amount of money my mother spent on food every week that my family was, in fact, poor. But that he declined to offer them any help.
My answer to this question is: "Many of them cannot afford to pay tithing."
My parents could not afford to pay tithing. But they did and, as a result, the family suffered.
I well remember when an officious and overbearing Mormon Bishop demanded a meeting with my parents. Apparently he was "concerned" that my parents were not paying a full fast offering, so small was the amount that my parents donated every month.
When my mother showed him her shopping list with each item carefully costed (that was something she always did, in order to eke out my father's miserly wage, we were in a rural area were pay was ridiculously low) he was shocked that our family got by on such a small amount of money for food.
He was shocked, but not shocked enough to offer any financial help to my parents. "The Church Welfare Programme does not operate in Britain" he had told them. "And the fast offering is for poor people." He apparently failed to see the irony in the fact that as he knew what my father's income was and knew the minuscule amount of money my mother spent on food every week that my family was, in fact, poor. But that he declined to offer them any help.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Raptor Jesus; His book
The book is about a man who was born into the Mormon "religion" and who faithfully served a mission, proselytising for his faith.
However, that's when things started to go seriously wrong, from one point of view, or. From another perspective, seriously right. He became quite ill on his mission.
Because of the intense pressure of the religion and the beliefs dealing with faith and healing, he developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when he is not healed by faith and cannot finish his mission.
After searching for answers, he finally discovers that the Mormon church is not what it claims to be and he decides to exit the religion and confront his past. The book skewers the religion and American pop culture as much as it explains them.
Author Raptor Jesus said: “If I were to explain what the book's about in one sentence it would be: The book is about punching the Mormon god right in his f***ing face.”
He went on to say: “The book is aimed at anyone who enjoys a good, naughty joke and has been curious about Mormons or Mormon missionaries. It was written during the same time that the Book of Mormon Musical hit Broadway like a rabid gorilla. The audiences would be very similar.
“I wrote this because I had to in order to recover from my past as much as I could. I also found that everyone who had a strict religious upbringing that didn't want to conform really liked the parallels of their stories with mine.”
The book is available via Amazon. From Amazon.com it costs $3.44 as a Kindle book and from Amazon.co.uk it costs £2.09p.
Monday, September 05, 2011
If you want to know the truth about Mormonism: Ask a Mormon! No. That doesn't work
But that's what Mormonism gets its members to say, isn't it?
The church says to its members: "If someone says: 'Well, I read that the Mormon church believes in such-and-such on a website called www.exmormon.org tell them to ignore that, as that site is filled with nothing but bitter Mormon haters! Tell them that the only way to learn about the truth about Mormons is to ask a Mormon!"
Now, at this point it might be worth asking why the people who use the Recovery From Mormonism board (RFM) found at the website referred to above might be described as "bitter Mormon haters."
In truth the people at RFH -and several other boards and websites for ex-Mormons or former Mormons-are not Mormon haters. But they do have a wide range of issues that might see them described as bitter towards the Mormon church. And for pretty good, solid and valid reasons.
The idea that one can only receive correct information about Mormonism from Mormons is pitiful in its naiveté.
If someone said: "Why, you should not ask other, bitter people formerly involved with an MLM downline about the MLM scheme! You must only ask the people who are currently involved with that MLM scheme!" You would think them to be a bit silly.
Or if someone is asking legitimate questions about a new financial investment that looks too good to be true, nobody in their right mind set would say: "Why, bless your heart! You do not want to be asking the police about this scheme! The only person you should be seeking information from is that lovely Mr Charles Ponzi! Or perhaps there's that charming Mr Madoff!" you would wonder at their sanity.
If you want a sales presentation, ask a Mormon. If you want a perspective on the Mormon church that the Mormon church might not want you to know, ask an ex-Mormon.
The church says to its members: "If someone says: 'Well, I read that the Mormon church believes in such-and-such on a website called www.exmormon.org tell them to ignore that, as that site is filled with nothing but bitter Mormon haters! Tell them that the only way to learn about the truth about Mormons is to ask a Mormon!"
Now, at this point it might be worth asking why the people who use the Recovery From Mormonism board (RFM) found at the website referred to above might be described as "bitter Mormon haters."
In truth the people at RFH -and several other boards and websites for ex-Mormons or former Mormons-are not Mormon haters. But they do have a wide range of issues that might see them described as bitter towards the Mormon church. And for pretty good, solid and valid reasons.
The idea that one can only receive correct information about Mormonism from Mormons is pitiful in its naiveté.
If someone said: "Why, you should not ask other, bitter people formerly involved with an MLM downline about the MLM scheme! You must only ask the people who are currently involved with that MLM scheme!" You would think them to be a bit silly.
Or if someone is asking legitimate questions about a new financial investment that looks too good to be true, nobody in their right mind set would say: "Why, bless your heart! You do not want to be asking the police about this scheme! The only person you should be seeking information from is that lovely Mr Charles Ponzi! Or perhaps there's that charming Mr Madoff!" you would wonder at their sanity.
If you want a sales presentation, ask a Mormon. If you want a perspective on the Mormon church that the Mormon church might not want you to know, ask an ex-Mormon.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Mormonism as a Country Club
Let's imagine Mormonism as a very exclusive Country Club which you are invited to join. Membership, you are told is very egalitarian. Everyone pays a membership fee of 10% of their income, so no one pays more than their fair share.
You decide to join and start paying your membership.
After a while you decide it would be nice to enjoy some of the facilities of the club. Can you use the gymnasium? No, you are told, you cannot use the gymnasium of the club.
Well, can you use the steam room? No, you are told that you cannot use the steam room.
Could you use the library of the Country Club? That too, is off limits to you.
Could you have a massage in the health suite? No, that is not available to you.
There is, in the brochure, a high quality restaurant. Can you book you and your family in there for a meal? No, with regret, you are informed that the restaurant is not available, either.
By now you are more than a little frustrated by this. You ask what facilities you CAN use? You are told that you are able to attend weekly presentations as to the benefits of membership of the Country Club and also you can attend special sessions of the Country Club when members who CAN access the facilities denied to you tell you how marvellous being a member is, and how you should live your life as a member of the Country Club.
You ask, with a sense of rising anger, if there is a two tier system of membership at the Country Club? The official who you approach is scandalised by this. But when you question him it transpires that he has never enjoyed any of the facilities of the Country Club, either! But he did once meet someone who knew someone who did enjoy the facilities.
"So, we are expected to pay our membership fees whilst an elite group of members actually enjoy the facilities of the Country Club and we get nothing in return?" you ask. "What are you? Some kind of rebel?" is the shocked response.
Now, at this point, most people would cancel their membership and quit the Country Club. For many people in the Mormon Church this is not an option. Because Mormonism really IS a Country Club for a few very, very few, lucky members (with many more facilities than I have outlined above) who have managed to convince several millions of people round the world that Mormonism is a church and not a Country Club.
You decide to join and start paying your membership.
After a while you decide it would be nice to enjoy some of the facilities of the club. Can you use the gymnasium? No, you are told, you cannot use the gymnasium of the club.
Well, can you use the steam room? No, you are told that you cannot use the steam room.
Could you use the library of the Country Club? That too, is off limits to you.
Could you have a massage in the health suite? No, that is not available to you.
There is, in the brochure, a high quality restaurant. Can you book you and your family in there for a meal? No, with regret, you are informed that the restaurant is not available, either.
By now you are more than a little frustrated by this. You ask what facilities you CAN use? You are told that you are able to attend weekly presentations as to the benefits of membership of the Country Club and also you can attend special sessions of the Country Club when members who CAN access the facilities denied to you tell you how marvellous being a member is, and how you should live your life as a member of the Country Club.
You ask, with a sense of rising anger, if there is a two tier system of membership at the Country Club? The official who you approach is scandalised by this. But when you question him it transpires that he has never enjoyed any of the facilities of the Country Club, either! But he did once meet someone who knew someone who did enjoy the facilities.
"So, we are expected to pay our membership fees whilst an elite group of members actually enjoy the facilities of the Country Club and we get nothing in return?" you ask. "What are you? Some kind of rebel?" is the shocked response.
Now, at this point, most people would cancel their membership and quit the Country Club. For many people in the Mormon Church this is not an option. Because Mormonism really IS a Country Club for a few very, very few, lucky members (with many more facilities than I have outlined above) who have managed to convince several millions of people round the world that Mormonism is a church and not a Country Club.
Why Mormonism is worse than MLM
Some people have likened Mormonism to MLM. I know where they're coming from, but I think Mormonism is worse than MLM. Far worse.
Let's look at it this way:
If you work seven days a week with Amway (or most other MLM businesses) there is a possibility that you might earn a decent income.
But if you work seven days a week at being a Mormon the only people who do well are the very small amount of people in the Mormon Church who are the the top of the Mormon pyramid.
So no matter how much time and money you give to the Mormon church, you will never earn a penny from all your efforts. And that, in my opinion, is worse than any MLM that is not 100% crooked.
Let's look at it this way:
If you work seven days a week with Amway (or most other MLM businesses) there is a possibility that you might earn a decent income.
But if you work seven days a week at being a Mormon the only people who do well are the very small amount of people in the Mormon Church who are the the top of the Mormon pyramid.
So no matter how much time and money you give to the Mormon church, you will never earn a penny from all your efforts. And that, in my opinion, is worse than any MLM that is not 100% crooked.
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